Going "four wheeling" is a sport that returns that sense of freedom and adventure to the use of a motorized vehicle that has largely disappeared in other types of driving. The fact that a four-wheeler is made to allow you to go off road appeals to the adventuresome side of us. Its fun to use your ATV to explore wooded areas, to get to that remote lake for some serious camping or fishing or just to have some off road fun racing or kicking up some dust.

Like the motorcycle, the four-wheeler can give a driver a sense of unlimited possibilities and invulnerability that can be deceiving and even potentially dangerous. An ATV is a very tough vehicle so you will be able to suddenly turn that four-wheeler off the road and head into the wilderness at will. But an ATV is not a tank and it is not impervious to damage, accidents or injury to the driver and the riders if you are not careful. So it is worth it to get a reality check before you get behind the wheel of your four wheeler so when you go out for a day of fun, you are aware of the potential hazards so you have your fun but come home to enjoy your ATV another day.

Part of being a responsible ATV owner is to understand your vehicle, what it can do and what it cannot do. You need some checks in your "bravado" when you get that vehicle off road. There would be no more disturbing moment than if you found yourself in a remote location with a damaged four wheeler, no cell phone access and perhaps an injured passenger because you didn't know the limitations of your ATV and because you let your love of "extreme sports" overcome your common sense and you took on more adventure than you could handle.

Before you try anything adventurous with your new four-wheeler, take sometime to get trained on how to use it. An ATV is a different kind of vehicle from a car or a truck and you need to have some exposure to how the machine handles especially in an off road situation. Also, take the time to take the ATV into "tame" off road situations and get to know it well. Better to have a problem with your four-wheeler a half mile from your home in a field where help can reach you than to get stranded in some dangerous, remote location.

You as the owner and primary driver of your four-wheeler should be the number one fanatic about safety. You should know the proper dress for four wheeling and be sure you inform your passengers what to where. Moreover, if a friend shows up and asks to go out with you on your ATV but he or she is not prepared to respect the safety guidelines you have for how to dress, wearing a helmet and other important precautions, you have to be the one that puts your foot down that you are not going out until they do comply with those rules.

By knowing your vehicle, knowing proper precautions and by keeping your "macho instincts" in check so you don't take undue risks with your ATV, you can enjoy many fun outings on your four-wheeler and get back with an undamaged machine and with undamaged riders. It is worth putting some thought into having fun but doing so safely for your good and for the good of your passengers.